Skakel still not free

Published 5:26 pm, Friday, November 22, 2013

Michael Skakel is not a free man. Yes, he was released last week after 11 years in prison, but Martha Moxley's murder in 1975 keeps him trapped in a different sort of prison.

The shadow of guilt follows Skakel. He was already a haunted child after the murder on Oct. 30, 1975, stumbling from one school to another and battling alcoholism. Thursday marked a major victory for the Skakel family, and their dedication to Michael is admirable in its own way. But these latest events could open new fissures within the family.

In overturning the original conviction, Judge Thomas Bishop declared attorney Michael Sherman's defense of Skakel incompetent, in part because of his failure to identify Michael's older brother, Thomas, as a possible suspect. If the state is able to reconstruct and generate a new trial against Michael Skakel, his new lawyer will certainly be expected to point the finger at Thomas.

The sadness for both families is incomprehensible. Martha's mother, Dorthy, said Michael's release left her feeling numb. She is a heroic figure, standing by her daughter's side decades after her death.

For the Skakels, Michael's release comes when his own son is 14, just a year younger than Michael and Martha were at the time of her death. Thomas Skakel, meanwhile, must brace to take his place closer to the center of the spotlight focused on this case. The questions surrounding his actions on the night of the murder have never been far from any analysis of the investigation. He struggled with emotional issues, had a sexual encounter with Martha on Oct. 30, 1975 and has summoned contradictory accounts for his whereabouts.

In a perfect world, we'd like Michael and Thomas to explain what they know about the events of that night. Michael was mute during the original trial and Thomas has only made rare cameos on the sidelines over the years.

But the law is not done with them. Michael Skakel is still not a free man. And now, neither is his brother.